Container



11. 'Jil Wii' INVENToR: ELMER D. SRAMEK BY ATT'Ys May 20, 1958 E. D. sRAMEK 2,835,378

coNTAINER Filed March 2, 1955 2 Shee'S-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ' ELMER o sRAMEK ATT'Ys United States Patent CONTAINER Elmar D. Sramek, Cicero, Ill., assignor to F. B. Redington Co.,.Chicago, Ill., a corporation of'Delaware Application March 2, 1955, Serial No. 491,705

4 Clairns. (Cl; 206--45.21)-

This invention relates to cartons in general, and particularly to a carton for cartoning and displaying the articles in the carton;

The invention consists, in general, of a cardboard box, carton or container which' is prefera-blfy made in one piece and rectilinear in shape to permit easy insertion of articles within the container. .The container is constructed with a plurality of score lines and perforatcd lines so that, after the container is completely filled and closed, the carton may be cut or broken away along the lines of perforation, and then folded back along certain score lines so as to display the articles in the carton whi'chis tilted at an a-ngle,` and to permit easy removall` of the articles fromthe display carton.

The primary object of the present inventi'on consists in the provision of a new and improved' container or carton which is made from one piece of fibrousl orv other stock with the bottorn flapsV and tucks sealed in place and provided with a plurality of score lines and l-ines of perforationto permit a part of thev topand the front of the container to be broken away and then folded backwardly to provide a rest or easel-like support so that the carton may be tilted at an angle for displaypurposes.

Another important object of the invention consistsl in providing a one-piece container or boxl into which articles may be easily inserted 'during the packaging of' the articles in the container, and then after being' completel'y packaged, may be cut or broken away along certai-n lines of perforation and bent along certain score lines, so as' to bare a part of the top as well as the front face of the carton, thecontainer or box being supported in easel-like fashion at a-n angle to display the contents of the container. i

Another important object consists in the construction, arrangement, formation of parts, and the location of certain score lines and certain lines of'perforati'on to provide a completely closed box which may be readily broken away or otherwise severed so as to render certain parts. of the container in open or bare position and tozdisplay the articles therein.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be ap,- parent throughout the progress of the specification which follows.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows: I

Fig. 1 is a detail plan view of a carton in its collapsed condition showing the rear and left sides thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the front and right sides of a collapsed carton;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective` view of the carton when expanded, the bottom being closed and the top being open, the view showing the front and the left: sides thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the rear and right side thereof;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the completely closed carton containing the contents, and showing the front and left side thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the carton of Fig. 5, showing the manner in which a part of the container top and a part of the front thereof may be broken or cut away along certain perforated' lines and folded along certain score lines;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the carton with a' part of the top and the front brokenl along the lines of perforation and folded alongA certain score lines to form the display carton of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a detail Vertical sectional view on the line 8-3 of Fig. 7.

The particular carton, box or container 1 hereindisclosed, for the purpose of ill'ustrating the invention, is formed from a single piece of cardboard, fiber orv other material the carton being normally collapsed for shipping and storage purposes. The collapsed carton is adapted to be expanded and certain tucks and flaps are then folded over to seal the bottom, with the top tucks and fiaps extending upwardly to provide a top opening into which articles may be inserted automatically by automatic machines.

Each carton 1 comprises a rear surface 2, a left side 01' end 3, a front 4, and a right side or end 5. The bottom v6 of the container or box 1 is forrned by providing bottom flaps-7 and 8 on the rear and front surfaces of the box, and bottom side fiaps 9 and Ill 'arel provided` on the left and right sides, respectively. The front` and rear flaps are not connected, the bottom 6 being formed by turning or bending inwardly the si-de flaps 9 and 10, then placing over the bottom rear flap 7' after which time the bottom front fiap 8 is placed over the fiap 7. The bottorn flaps are glued to each other to make a closed, airtight bottom' 6, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive.

The container or box 1 is scored along the Vertical' lines 11 at the four corners to permt for the long'itudinal folding of the carton and making it easy for collapsingl and expanding purposes. The bottom side flaps 9 and 10, Figs'. l and 2, are severed from the front and rear flaps 8 and 9 by a slit 12, in the usual manner, so that the flaps 7, 9, 8 and 10 may be folded inwardly along the lower horizontal score line 13 which is coextensive with the bottom edges of the four enclosing side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the outer edges of' the bottom 6.

The upper end of the carton 1, Fgs. 1 to 4, is provided with upstandingtopV side flaps 14, 14, which are severed as usual from theupstanding top front an'd rear fiaps 15 and 16, respectively, as indicated at 17. The top side flaps 14, 14 are slit along the line 18 to provide separate side ing fiaps 19, 19. The fiaps 14, 14, 15 and 16' extend downwardly front their upper edges to'the upper horizontal score line Zii, the score lines Zil defining the length of the upward extension ofV the flaps 115, 14, 15 and 16, which are to be folded over.

Material or substance is to be inserted in the carton 1 through the upper open end of the box, either in a horizontal or Vertical position, automatically by machines for this purpose. The material or substance inserted in the box is herein specifically shown as individually wrapped packages 21 of confection such .as cookies, crackers and the like. After the box or ycarton 1 has, been filled with the required number o f articles such as packages 21, the top side fiaps 14, each including the sections 19, 1% are turned inwardly and the rear fiap 16 is applied thereover, and the front fiap 15 is then placed over the side fiaps 14 and over the rear fiap. 16, all the flaps then being glued in place, whereupon the carton will assume the shape and condition shown in Fig. 5, with the top front fiap 15 extending over the rear fiap 16 up to the seam 22, 5.

The package 1 may be opened by tearing or otherwise opening the top enclosing fiaps 14, 14, 15 and 16 in the usual manner, but in cases where it is desired to embody the carton or container 1 into a display carton, there are provided additional score lines. Also, lines of perforation are provided to separate a part of the top and a part of the front to provide a section, which when severed will bare the contents of the carton as shown in Fig. 6. The severable section provides an easel-like portion which is to be turned under to form the carton into a display carton as shown in Figs. 7 and S.

The edge of the front upper flap 15 at the seam 22, Fig. 5, is provided with a transverse perforated line 23 extending completely across the top. A Vertical perforated line 24 extends downwardly on each side at a point coextensive with each slit 18 to the point indicated at 25, Fig. 5, where it is joined by a connecting line of perforation 26 extending diagonally and forwardly and inclining downwardly on the sides 3 and to a point indicated at 27, the point 27 being at a line of junction with an upper horizontal score line 28 which extends across the front 4. Vertical lines of perforation 29, 29 extend downwardly along each corner of the back from the point 27, to the carton bottom, as indicated at 30, Figs. 5 to 8. A lower transverse score line 31 extends across the front 4 between the perforated lines 29, 29, and this latter score line is located a predetermined distance above the bottom 6 of the carton. The front part of the box 1, therefore, may be severed along the score lines 23, 24, 26 and 29 and down to the point indicated at 30, whereupon a part of the top and front may be bent and turned outwardly and rearwardly with parts positioned beneath the box bottom 6, the severable portion of the front 4 being bent along the horizontal lower score line 30.

The front 4, including that part of the top between the perforated line 23 and the score line 20 which constitutes the major part of the top flap 15, is bent outwardly and forwardly, until the section 32, between the lower score line 31 and the bottom score line 13, is in a plane common to the exposed side'edges 33 of the left and right hand sides 3 and 5, Figs. 6 and 7. The part of the front 4 between the score lines 31 and 28 when bent as shown in Fig. 7 comprises an exterior or bottom supporting surface 34, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The part 35, Figs. 7 and 8, between the score lines 28 and 20, Fig. 5 comprises a back rest for the carton and engages the rear side 2 of the carton, Figs. 7 and 8. The diagonal edge 36 which is the edge along the perforated line 26, is in the same plane as the part or section 34 and acts as a bottom support along with the part 34. The part 37, between the score line 20 and the perforated line 23, which part 37 comprises a part of the top flap 15, strengthens and supports the back rest part 35. The part 38, of each of the carton sides is integral with the carton sides and with the top part 37. The part 38 is defined by the score lines 24 and 26 and strengthens the panel or part 35 which constitutes the back rest against which the rear panel 2 of the carton lis supported. Therefore, when the severable part is detached along the perforated lines 23, 24, 26 and 29 on both sides, and the detached part is folded along the score lines 13, 31 and 28 and the parts 32, 34', 35 and 37 are turned downwardly outwardly and rearwardly, the carton will assume the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, with the articles 21 in plain view and removable handily and easily from the carton. The parts 32, 34, 35, 37 and 38, and the edges 36 form an easel 39 which supports the carton and its enclosed articles at an angle inclined from the Vertical.

The invention provides a unique display container made from a single sheet of stock material which is foldedto the proper shape or configuration and then sealed in place. A part of the sealed carton is adapted to be torn or cut away along certain perforations and folded upon certain score lines to provide the easel 39 having a bottom support and maintains the box at a predetermined inclined 4 i angle. A one-piece box of the type herein described is easier to make and considerably easier to fill than would be the case if an open box and a separate removable cover or closure were provided. The present carton is very economically made in that the score lines and the lines of perforation may be formed during the forming of the carton. It is rigid, strong and durable and may be filled by automatic machines. The present container is capable of use in the usual manner by opening up the top flaps to obtain access to the material, or the device may be severed along the perforated lines and then folded along score lines. The hinged front may be bent back to form a supporting easel for the box so as to display prominently the substance or material within the container.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangernent of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. A carton formed from a single sheet of fibrous material comprising a front wall, a rear wall, connecting side walls, a top and a bottom, said top and bottom comprising side and end flaps arranged in overlapping position and fastened together to form a completely enclosed box-like carton, said carton having a perforated line across the top thereof and a perforated line extending downwardly in three straight segments on each side wall, said perforated line on each side wall including a first perforated line segment extending vertially along each side wall and merging with the perforated line across the top, a second perforated line segment on each side wall extending diagonally downwardly from the first perforated line segment to the front of the carton, and a third perforated line segment extending downwardly along the front wall from the second perforated line segment to the bottom of the carton, said perforated lines defining a severable section adapted to form an easel to support the carton in a rcarwardly tilted position and thus form a display carton to display the contents within the carton said severable section having a front support panel formed by a score line on said front wall spaced a short distance above the bottom edge of said front wall and parallel thereto.

2. A carton which is formed from a single sheet of fibrous material and which may be opened for display purposes, said carton comprising a front wall, an opposed spaced rear wall, two opposed relatively narrow spaced side walls connecting between the front wall and the rear wall, a bottom and a top forming a rectangular container, said front wall having an upper horizontal score line and a lower horizontal score line, said score lines being parallel with each other and with said top and bottom dividing the front wall into an upper panel, an intermediate panel and a lower panel, said top having a line of perforations extending from side to side thereof and dividing the top into a rearward panel and a forward panel, each of said side walls having a line of perforations extending vertically downwardly from the line of perforations of the top to a point and thence diagonally downwardly to the upper score line of the front wall, the line of perforations of each side wall dividing a trapezoidal panel from the remainder of the side wall, the upper panel of the front wall combined with the forward panel of the top and with the trapezoidal panels of both side walls constituting a backrest when the car-i ton is opened for the display purposes, the intermediate panel of the front wall being substantially equal in length and width to the length and width of the bottom constituting a bottom support surface when the carton is opened for the display purposes, and the lower panel of the front wall constituting a front support for the carton.

3. A carton formed from a single sheet of fibrous material comprising a front wall, a rear wall, connecting side walls, a top and a bottom, said top and bottom comprising side and end flaps arranged in overlapping position and fastened together to form a completely enclosed boxlike carton, said carton having a perforated line across the top thereof, and a perforated line extending downwardly in three straight segments on each side wall, said perforated line on each side wall including a first perforated line segment extending vertically along the side wall and merging with the perforated line across the top, a second perforated line segment on each side Wall extending diagonally downwardly from the first perforated line segment to the front wall of the carton, and a third perforated line segment extending downwardly along the front wall from the second perforated line segment to the bottom of the carton, said perforated lines defining a severable section adapted to form an easel to support the carton and thus form a display carton to display the contents within the carton, said severable section having a first score line at the juncture of the top with the top of the front wall, a second score line below the first score line and at a point where the secondand third perforated line segments meet, a third score line below the second score line, a fourth score line at the juncture of the bottom of the section with the bottom of the carton hingedly connecting said severable section thereto, all of said score lines being mutually parallel to each other and extending transversely across the severable section, said section being adaptable to bend along the fourth score line to form a relatively upstanding part to support the carton in a rearwardly tilted position, said section also being adaptable to bend along the third score line and being foldable rearwardly whereby that part of the section between the third score line and the second score line is substantially equal dimensionally to the carton bottom and forms a supporting bottom for said easel.

4. A carton formed from a single sheet of fibrous material comprising a front wall, a rear wall, connecting side walls, a top and a bottom, said top and bottom comprising side and end flaps arranged in overlapping position and fastened together to form a completely enclosed box-like carton, said carton having a perforated line across the top thereof and a perforated line extending downwardly in three straight segments on each side wall, the first of the perforated line segments extending vertically along each side wall and merging with the perforated line across the top, the second of the perforated line segments on each side wall extending diagonally downwardly from the first perforated line segment to the front of the carton, and the third of the perforated line segments extending downwardly along the front wall from the second perforated line segment to the bottom of the carton, said perforated lines defining a severable section adapted to form an easel to support the carton and thu's form a display carton to display the contents within the carton, said severable section having a first score line at the juncture of the top with the top of the front, a second score line below the first score line and at a point Where the second and third perforated linesegments meet, a third score line below the second score line, a fourth score line at the juncture of the bottom of the section with the bottom of the carton hingedly connecting said severable section thereto, all of said score lines being mutually parallel to each other and extending transversely across the severable section, said section being adaptable to bend along the fourth score line to form a relatively upstanding part, said section also being adaptable to bend along the third score line and foldable rearwardly Whereby that part of the section between the third score line and the second score line is substantially equal dimensionally to the carton bottom and forms a supporting bottom for said easel, said severable section being foldable upwardly in a manner to bring the part of the section defined by the diagonal perforated line segments contiguous with the part between the second and third score lines and the part between the second and first score lines engagable with the rear of the carton whereby the carton may be supported in a plane inclined to the Vertical to form an inclined display carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,847 rl`annatt Apr. 26, 1887 939,234 Eichhorn Nov. 9, 1909 1,457,305 Horr June 5, 1923 1,925,102 Levkoff Sept. 5, 1933 2,081,07O Schoettle May 18, 1937 2,294,965 Davidson Sept. 8, 1942 

